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Notes  on  Bayonet  Training 

No.  2 

ADAPTED  FROM  A  CANADIAN  PUBLICATION 


ARMY  WAR  COLLEGE 
AUGUST,  i&7 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE 
1917 


WAR  DEPARTMENT. 

Document  No.  649. 

Office  of  The  Adjutant  General. 


WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
WASHINGTON,  August  16,  1917. 
he  following  pamphlet,  Notes  on  Bayonet  Training,  No.  2, 
ublished  for  the  information  of  all  concerned. 
(300.6,  A.  G.  O.) 

Y    ORDER    OF    THE    SECRETARY    OF    WAR  : 

H.  L.  SCOTT, 
Major  General,  Chief  of  Staff. 

FFICIAL : 

H.  p.  MCCAIN, 

The  Adjutant  General. 

3 


INDEX. 


PART  I. 

Page. 

Introduction 7 

Long  point,  short  point  and  jab 9 

Assault   practice 19 

Direction  practice  at  thrusting  ring 27 

Demonstration  of  successful  attack 35 

Use  of  butt 41 

Final  assault " 49 

PART  II. — "  IN-FIGHTING." 

Method    (1) 53 

Method    (2) 63 

Method   (3) 71 

Method  of  using  rifle  at  close  quarters 79 

Method  of  using  knife  at  close  quarters 85 

Methods  of  disengaging 89 

Method  of  meeting  attacks 93 

5 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


INTRODUCTION. 

PHYSICAL    FITNESS. 

It  has  been  proved  that  one  of  the  most  important  factors  in 
this  war  is  physical  fitness  and  development  of  the  fighting 
spirit.  Courage  is  only  developed  in  a  man  by  his  being  trained 
to  have  the  greatest  confidence  in  his  fighting  weapon.  It  is 
just  as  absurd  to  send  a  man  forward  to  fight  with  a  bayonet 
without  having  complete  confidence  in  his  weapon,  as  it  would 
be  to  put  an  untrained  man  in  the  ring  against  a  professional 
prize  fighter.  The  lack  of  confidence  on  the  part  of  the  un- 
trained man  would  be  about  the  same  in  both  cases. 

FINAL     ASSAULT     PRACTICE. 

Officers  and  noncommissioned  officers  must  themselves  become 
good  fighters  if  they  are  to  teach  others  how  to  fight,  and  their 
success  as  leaders  depends  to  a  very  large  extent  upon  their 
ability  as  instructors.  Looking  at  the  question  broadly  it  may 
be  stated  that  the  aim  of  training  is  the  improvement  of  the 
fighting  quality  of  a  mass,  and  those  who  are  least  efficient 
should  receive  the  most  attention  so  as  to  bring  them  up  to  the 
plane  of  their  comrades,  as  each  man  in  the  mass  depends  upon 
his  confidence  in  himself  and  in  his  comrades  as  fighters.  • 

Bayonet  fighting  must  be  taught  as  boxing,  fencing,  and 
wrestling  are  taught — by  actual  contact  and  not  merely  theo- 
retically. To  tell  a  man  how  to  box  and  give  him  instructions 
by  the  hour  will  never  make  him  a  boxer.  He  must  combine 
theory  with  practice.  He  must  put  on  the  gloves  and  measure 
his  skill  against  that  of  others,  and  the  more  he  does  this,  pro- 
vided he  is  instructed  on  the  right  lines,  the  greater  degree  of 
proficiency  to  which  he  will  attain.  From  a  fighting  point  of 
view,  boxing  is  most  invaluable  as  an  aid  to  training. 

7 


8  BAYONET  TRAINING. 

STIMULUS   OF   PHYSICAL   CONTACT. 

The  aim  is  to  develop  the  soldier  of  every  rank  into  an  ideal 
fighting  man,  and  it  may  be  put  bluntly  that  progress  in  train- 
ing is  frequently  hindered  by  the  failure  of  the  recruit  to  apply 
the  natural  fighting  spirit.  It  is  here  where  "  in-fighting  dis- 
arming practice,"  for  instance,  is  such  a  valuable  adjunct  to 
training.  The  soldier's  fighting  spirit  must  be  drawn  out  by 
actual  physical  contact. 

Regimental  officers  should  be  more  proficient  in  the  use  of  the 
fighting  weapons  than  their  men,  because  the  fact  of  the  men 
knowing  that  their  officers  are  capable  fighters  creates  a  feeling 
of  confidence. 

THE    SPIRIT    OF    THE    BAYONET. 

Uniformity  in  training  is  also  an  important  point,  as  men 
going  into  action  are  buoyed  up  by  the  fact  that  their  com- 
rades on  their  right  and  left  are  capable  of  doing  their  share 
at  the  critical  moment. 

All  ranks  must  understand  that  the  enemy  method  of  bayonet 
fighting  is  not  the  same  as  our  method.  Therefore  the  greatest 
control  of  the  rifle  and  bayonet  is  necessary  in  order  to  meet 
any  form  of  attack. 

The  spirit  of  the  bayonet  must  be  inculcated  into  all  ranks  so 
that  they  go  forward  with  that  aggressive  determination  and 
confidence  of  superiority  born  of  continual  practice,  without 
which  a  bayonet  assault  will  not  be  effective. 


(1)  All  "in-fighting"  practices  can  be  done  with  parrying 
poles  padded  at  the  ends  representing  rifle  and  bayonet,  or  with 
equipment,  viz,  spring  muskets,  gloves,  masks,  and  body  pads. 

(2)  Any  low  point  may  be  effectively  parried  with  the  butt, 
and  after  parrying  the  butt  can  be  used  to  disable  opponent. 

(3)  The  first  object  after  parrying  point  with  hand  or  arm  is 
to  disable  opponent.    Secondly,  to  disarm  and  kill. 

(4)  Troops  armed  with  bayonet  only  can  be  effectively  taught 
to  repel  attack  against  rifle  and  bayonet. 

(5)  Any  simple  method   of  Ju-jitsu,   wrestling,   and  boxing 
should  be  taught  and  encouraged. 


Series  "A." -1-8. 
LONG  POINT,  SHORT  POINT,  AND  JAB. 

Reference,  Paragraphs  19  to  30,  Notes  on  Bayonet  Training, 
March,  1917. 

Each  dummy  must  be  regarded  as  an  actual  armed  op- 
ponent, and  each  line  of  dummies  as  an  enemy  line — at- 
tacking, defending,  or  retiring — and  be  disposed  of  ac- 
cordingly. 

1.  On   guard. 

2.  Assault    practice — On    guard. 

3.  Long  point,  at  dummy  on  ground. 

4.  Foot  on  dummy,  left  hand  up,  vigorous  withdrawal. 

5.  Short    point — Position. 

6.  Short  point  at  dummy,  advancing  rear  foot. 

7.  Right  hand  up,  withdrawal  ready  for  jab. 

8.  Jab — Advancing   rear  foot.     Withdraw,   passing  through 

dummies  at  on  guard  position. 

9 


10 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


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12 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


13 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


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16 


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Series  "B."-9-14. 
ASSAULT  PRACTICE. 


Reference,  Paragraphs  41  to  55,  Notes  on  Bayonet  Training, 
March,  1917. 

9.  Charging  at  high  port.  The  threatening,  yet  defensive, 
"  On  Guard "  position  will  be  assumed  at  least  10 
yards  from  the  enemy. 

10.  Jumping   from   parapet,   with    point   on  dummy. 

11.  Control  and   direction   of   point. 

12.  Point    leading    on    landing. 

13.  Foot  on  dummy,  left  hand  up,  vigorous  withdrawal. 

14.  On   guard   and   forward. 

19 


20 


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BAYONET   TRAINING. 


22 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


23 


24 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


Series  "  C."-15-20. 
DIRECTION  PRACTICE  AT  THRUSTING  RING. 

15.  On   guard. 

16.  Long  point. 

17.  Short    point — position. 

18.  Short  point. 

19.  Jab  position. 

20.  Jab. 

27 


28 


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BAYONET   TRAINING. 


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30 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


31 


32 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


33 


1 


9613°— 17 3 


Series  "D."-21-24. 

DEMONSTRATION  OF  SUCCESSFUL  ATTACK, 
SHOWING  METHOD  OF  WITHDRAWING  THE 
RIFLE  FROM  VICTIM. 

21.  Successful  point:   victim   seizing   rifle. 

22.  Victim   forced   to   ground. 

23.  Strong   withdrawal. 

24.  Ready  for  further  action  with  short  point. 

35 


36 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


37 


33 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


39 


Series  "E."-25-30. 
USE  OF  BUTT. 

Reference,  Paragraphs  31  to  36,  Notes  on  Bayonet  Training, 
March,  1917. 

25.  Right   parry. 

26.  Attack  continued  with  butt  to  flank. 

27.  Points  forced  up  after  parry. 

28.  Butt  to  fork. 

29.  Left  low  parry. 

30.  Butt  to  head. 

41 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


44 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


46 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


47 


Series  "F."— 31-33. 
FINAL  ASSAULT. 

Reference,  Paragraphs  41  to  55,  Notes  on  Bayonet  Training, 
March,  1917. 

31.  Final   assault. 

32.  Final   assault. 

33.  Final  assault. 

9613C— 17 4  49 


50 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


51 


52 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


Series  "  G."-34-41. 
"  IN-FIGHTING." 

Parry  point  outward  with  left  hand.  Step  in,  seizing  op- 
ponent's left  wrist  firmly  with  the  right  hand.  Grip  rifle 
with  left  hand  (back  of  hand  down).  Swing  rifle  upward 
and  to  the  right,  at  the  same  time  stepping  in,  bringing 
left  knee  violently  to  fork.  Disarm,  using  butt  or  point. 

34.  Parry   point   outward   with   left  hand. 

35.  Step  in,  seizing  opponent's  left  wrist  firmly   with  right 

hand. 

36.  Grip  the  rifle  with  left  hand,  back  of  the  hand  down. 

37.  Swing  the  rifle   upward  and  to  the  right,  at  the  same 

time  stepping   in,   retaining   grasp   on   opponent's   left 
wrist. 

38.  Left  knee,  violently  to  fork. 

39.  Force  opponent  to  ground,  and  disarm. 

40.  Use  butt  or  point. 

41.  Using  point  to  kill. 

53 


54 


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BAYONET  TRAINING. 


55 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


57 


58 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


59 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


SEUIES  "  G." — 40.  USE  BUTT  OK  POINT. 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


61 


Series  "H."-42-47. 
"  IN-FIGHTING." 

Parry  point  outward  with  right  hand,  kicking  at  fork  or 
shin  with  rear  foot 'and  gripping  rifle  with  right  hand  (back 
of  hand  down),  swing  rifle  upward  and  to  the  left.  Force 
point  to  ground,  at  the  same  time  stepping  in,  vigorously 
charging  or  tripping  opponent.  Disarm  and  kill. 

42.  Parry  point  outward  with  right  hand. 

43.  Kicking  at  fork  or  shin  with  rear  foot,  and  gripping  rifle 

with  right  hand,  back  of  hand  down. 

44.  Swing  rifle  upward  and  to  the  left. 

45.  Force  point  to  ground,  stepping  in. 

46.  Vigorously  charging  or  tripping. 

47.  Disarm  and  kill. 

63 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


65 


0613°— 17 5 


66 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


SWING   RIFLE   UPWARD' AND  TO  THE   LEFT. 

.SEIUES  "  II." — 44. 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


FORCE   POINT  TO   GROUND,  STEPPING  IN. 

SEIUES  "  II." — 45. 


68 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


VIGOROUSLY  CHARGING  OR  TRIPPING. 

SKI:II;S   "  II." — 40 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


69 


Series  "J."-48-53. 
"  IN-FIGHTING." 

Parry  point  outward  and  grasp  rifle  with  right  hand.  Step 
in,  striking  opponent's  left  hand  from  rifle  with  left  hand, 
and  swing  I/eft  elbow  violently  to  jaw,  disarming  oppo- 
nent, using  butt  to  head  and  killing  with  point. 

48.  Parry   with   hand. 

49.  Advance,   striking   opponent's  left  hand  from   rifle. 

50.  Left   elbow  to  jaw. 

51.  Attack  successful,   opponent  disarmed. 

52.  Butt   to   head. 
53;  Kill  with  point. 

71 


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BAYONET   TRAINING. 


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74 


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BAYONET   TRAINING. 


75 


76 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


77 


Series  "K."-54-57. 

METHOD   OF  USING  RIFLE  AT   CLOSE 
QUARTERS. 

54.  Attack. 

55.  Parried  and   points  forced  to  ground. 

56.  Contact  results. 

57.  Disengagement   to   jabbing    position. 

79 


80 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


81 


9013°— 17 6 


82 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


83 


Series  "L."-58-59. 

METHOD  OF  USING  KNIFE  (CARRIED  IN 
PUTTEE)  IN  CONJUNCTION  WITH  THE 
RIFLE  AND  BAYONET  AT  CLOSE  QUARTERS. 

58.  Reaching  for  knife  in  contact  after  parried  attack. 

59.  Stab  at  groin. 

85 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


87 


Series  "M."-60-61. 
METHODS  OF  DISENGAGING  AND  FEINTING. 

60.  Advance   to   attack. 

61.  Disengagement  low  on  parry  and  dashing  in  with  point. 

89 


90 


BAYONET  TRAINING. 


BAYONET   TRAINING. 


91 


Series  "N."-62. 
A  METHOD  OF  MEETING  ATTACKS. 

62.  Duck  and  low  point. 


94 


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